A Quiet Place, directed by John Krasinski, is set in a post-apocalyptic world, where survivors hide from creatures who, despite blindness, can hear the faintest of sounds — the family at the center of the narrative is even forced to live in silence, communicating purely through sign language. Lee Abbott, played by Krasinski, and his pregnant wife Evelyn (played by his real-life wife, Emily Blunt) have to do the impossible: have a silent childbirth and subsequently raise a silent baby. On the edge of your seat yet?
What makes this film so compelling is just how suspenseful it is. You can feel how high the stakes are for the Abbott family from the opening scene until the very end. Most horror films start out with the characters living normal lives until the conflict is introduced, and then their lives change. With A Quiet Place, the conflict is there from the very start — and it’s always lingering. The pressure of silence makes everyday activities super intense: eating, playing games, walking. They have to consider every move to make sure they’re being quiet. Instead of using plates, they use lettuce wraps, and instead of using board game pieces, they use pieces of fabric. They survive on this strategy.
The character portrayal is another reason this flick is a must-see. Without dialogue, you’d think the movie would be lacking somehow, but it’s quite the contrary. Relying on facial expressions and body language, the actors manage to precisely express emotion. Not to mention, Krasinski and Blunt have undeniable chemistry throughout the movie.
A Quiet Place is already critically acclaimed, and it’s likely because it delivers: chances are, you’ll leave the theater in a heightened state of anxiety. It boasts a high rating of 95 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, and Stephen King, author of classic horror novels including It, The Shining, and Carrie has praised the movie as well. He tweeted: “A QUIET PLACE is an extraordinary piece of work. Terrific acting, but the main thing is the SILENCE, and how it makes the camera’s eye open wide in a way few movies manage.”
Agreed, Mr. King.